Improvement in envelope-openers



L. A. MILLER. BNVELOP OPENER.

No. 105.356 Patented Jill v12, 1870;"

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for the "purpose of holding the envelope or a v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEBBEUS A. MILLER, OF SEWICKLEYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

' IMPROVEMENT lN- ENVELOPE-OPENERS.

Specifination forming part of Letters Patent No. 105,356, dated January 14, 1570- To ail whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, Lnnnnus A. MILLER, of Sewickleyville, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have .invented a new and useful-Improvement in Envelope and Paper Gutters; and I do hereby declare the Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved envelope-opener, showingthe guiding-springs.

- Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same through a: m, Fig. 1, showing the cutting-knife. Fig. 3

'is a sectional view of the'knife and knifeplate, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the connection of knife and knife-plate.

Like letters. of reference indicate like parts in each.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of an en velope-opener and papercutter having aguide-plate, in combination with the knife-blade and side springs.

The base of the knife-blade is fastened to a plate,'0, the point or cutting-edge projecting inward, and the plate is slid into a box-or frame, d, (which-box is open at'both ends and on one side,) under the edges of two springs,

@- e, which are fastenedto the sides of the framed. The Springs 6 e, fastened to the .in-

' ner faces. of the sides f of the frame (I, are of such shape that the extreme point of their curve shall come opposite to the point of the knife-blade a.

Fastened'to. the opposite end of the plate 0" from the end to which the knife-blade is fastened is a spring or rigid plate, g, the free or bent end of which rises up until it comes'un- This is paper to be out up againsttheedge of the knife a. The plate 0 is fastened to the bottom side of the frame-dby means ofjarivet or screw, h, which can be taken out at pleasure,

so that the plate may be removed for sharpening the knife, &c.

i To make use of my invention the corner of the envelope to be opened must be inserted.

a. of the knife a. The edge it cuts into and through the paper, and will continue to do so so-long as the paper is drawn against it. The operation is the same in cutting the leaves of books, papers, (to.

The bottom plate of the frame d can, if

so desired, be out out or perforated just under the knife-blade and forward of the end of the plate 5 to prevent the clogging ofstheknife-blade wwith paper shavings.

By the use of the plate 9 the point a is prevented from entering the envelope far enough to injure its contents.

The knife-point need not be inserted in any opening in the envelope to give it a bite, for it will cut into any corner of an envelope and, make an opening for itself. i

The frame (Z, I desire 'to make of any shape whatever, wishing to cover the use of the springs e e and plate 9 with the knife in any shape of frame. The several parts are made of any desired material suitable for the purpose.

My improvement is rendered very convenient by being attached to apen-holder or pencil.-

r The plate or spring 9 can be set and bent in various. other ways than that shown, the one shown being merely a convenient form.

The knife or is much more secure when fastened to the plate a by a dovetail joint, as

shown in'FigA, and it is-thus Iprefer to have it, although riveting and other modes of fastening answer the purpose.

The springs e e adapt themselves equally well to either an empty orbulky. envelope. These springs, I am aware, have'p'reviousl-y been used 'in the manner and for the purposes set forth, as also the knife a.

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

The guide-plate g, in combination with side springs, e e, and blade a, arranged in a case,-

d, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof 1, the said LEBBEUS A. MILLE have hereunto set my hand.

. L. A. MILLER.

\Vitnesses:

THos. B. KERR, JOHN GLENN. 

